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3 stars

Stage 3, Walterdale Playhouse

A blithe young evangelist with a nose for sin susses out the house as Excuse Me: This is the Truth begins. “That hair is just not Christian!” the brunette shouts at someone in the audience. Then, pointing: “He loves YOU. He loves YOU. He’ll get to know YOU.”

This satirical take on Bible camp starts with a bang, with characters rapping about gettin’ crazy “for the luv of Gawd,” and religious troop-rallying, “You say ‘J.C.,’ we say ‘died on the cross!’ ” Lots of laughs from the house from the very start.

The story revolves around teen couple Levi and Sarah-Rae, who are enthusiastically spreading the good word. Alas, Sarah-Rae’s so hardcore-Jesus she doesn’t notice how henpecked poor Levi’s become. When a liberal-minded preacher’s daughter with a mild naughty streak comes on the scene and talks some sense into him, Levi starts to wonder what life might be like without his beloved zealot.

I adored Jessie McPhee as the bashful, chinless nerd Levi in this production — he stole the show with his self-deprecation and awkwardness. Think Michael Cera at Christian summer camp! And Joleen Ballendine makes a killer religious fanatic; honestly, she’s priceless.

A decent show by Break the Wall productions, though I found myself flagging between witty one-liners. The love triangle plot felt predictable — whipped boyfriend torn between his loyalty to controlling, uptight girlfriend and feelings for hot blond who’s the voice of reason. The excellent performers were what carried me through. Amen.

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